Tips for Dealing with Termites

Each year termites cause literally billions of dollars worth of structural damage across the United States, so it's no surprise that so many property owners are expressing completely valid concern regarding termite control. While most termiticides are only approved for application by a licensed pest control specialist, there are some steps that property owners themselves can take toward preventing serious structural damage due to termites. These steps begin with understanding the signs of a termite infestation.

How to Tell a Building is Infested

Termites only emerge from their hiding places in soil, mud tubes, and wood on an infrequent basis, so it can be difficult to determine whether or not there is a termite problem before serious damage has been allowed to occur. The best way to identify the problem early is to perform periodic examinations of any exposed wood using a flathead screwdriver or another similar tool to tap on it and expose any hollow spots. If the wood sounds hollow, chances are there are termites burrowing beneath it.

How to Prevent pest control near me to prevent a termite infestation is to make the structure seem less appealing to these pests. This can be done during construction by using a concrete foundation and ensuring that a ventilation space is left between any wood and the soil outside and covering exposed wood surfaces with metal or specialized sealants. Unfortunately, though, most property owners don't have the luxury of full control over the construction process and must take action to retrofit their properties instead.

There are still plenty of steps that can be taken toward termite prevention in existing structures, though. Keeping the soil around the structure dry by ensuring adequate maintenance of gutters and drainage systems, filling any cracks in the foundation, and ensuring that no trees and shrubs are allowed to grow against exposed wood can all help immensely in making a structure look less appealing to termites.

The only sure-fire way to get rid of termites is to call in a Pest Control specialist. Exterminators have access to products that are not available on the consumer market such as specialized termiticides that require licenses for application and know how to use techniques such as erecting physical barriers, baiting, and putting down fungus treatments to eliminate any insects currently infesting the structure.

When to Call for Help

Termites become more difficult to control the longer they are allowed to proliferate throughout a structure, so it's always best to call a pest control specialist as soon as signs of termite damage begin to appear. If swarms of termites are already being noticed throughout the building, taking action immediately can make the difference between sustaining serious structural damage and being able to control the attack and successfully prevent future damage.